Experts at this week's ICAO conference in Addis Ababa have called for strengthening Africa's aviation industry in terms of development on the continent, reports XinhuaNet.

Speaking at the second International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) meeting on air cargo development in Africa, experts including ICAO president Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu and group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Tewolde Gebremariam called for strengthening Africa's aviation industry to look after the continent's development, with Aliu stating:" No continent, no country can develop without civil aviation.”

After announcing ICAO's ambition to assist the development of aviation in the African continent, Aliu indicated that strategic activities need to be done in Africa on various issues, with due emphasis given to aviation safety.

Aliu further lauded the Ethiopian Aviation Academy as a center of excellence for crafting the future of Africa's aviation industry through trainings.

Gebremariam, who reiterated the aviation sector's role for public transport service in Africa, indicated that air cargo is the most important factor for the socio-economic development of Africa than any other part of the world, where infrastructures for other modes of transport are underdeveloped.

He also indicated that for African countries, possessing an economy largely dominated by agricultural and horticultural products export, air cargo is an ideal option.

Gebremariam also urged all stakeholders to join hands and save Africa's air transport industry sector, saying: “The industry in Africa is dying. All of us have to join hands to save the industry from its natural death."

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